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Shiurim & Adult Education
THOUGHTS ON BEHAR BECHUKOTAI BY RABBI WILKINSON
This week we read the double parsha of Behar-Be’hukotai.
In Behar we learn about the laws of shmittah. In the second parasha, Bechukotai, we find the Torah’s first account of the Tochacha (Divine Admonition) and the dreadful consequences associated therewith.
The Torah pinpoints a noteworthy and unexpected root cause. Repeatedly the Torah warns, “If you behave keri with Me …” (v. 21). “If despite these [plagues] you will not be chastised to Me, and you behave keri with Me, then I, too, will behave toward you with keri (v. 23-24). “If despite this you will not heed Me, and you behave toward me with keri, (v.27) I will behave toward you with a fury of keri … “(v. 28)
What is meant by ‘keri’? Rashi explains that it refers to an outlook of “casual-ness or viewing things as a matter of chance,” i.e., that an event only occurs randomly from time-to-time. Rashi quotes the sage Menachem ben Saruk that this attitude, “hardens one’s heart and holds them back from bringing themselves close to Hashem.”
The Rambam defines ‘keri’ as denying Hashem’s orchestration of events and instead viewing them as random accidents. Wars happen to break out every-now-and then. Pandemics just happen to strike once in a blue moon.
This doesn’t help to explain what is so wrong with being casual? The answer is because it essentially banishes the Creator from His own world. Hashem can be moved further and further out of our perspective. One can ignore His presence in the world.
On the other hand, when we look for the hand of Hashem and His Divine Providence in history and in nature, in the world at-large or within the small details of our lives we can find Him there.
This idea is also connected to the beginning of the parasha of Bechukotai which begins with the words: “If you walk in My statutes.” The Torah might have said: if you observe My statutes, or if you keep My statutes.” Why does it use the word “walk?”
Rabbi Hayyim Palache, a sage of 19th century Izmir, explained that when the Torah commands us to “walk” in Hashem’s ways, it means that we are to be active participants. We are not supposed to wait for opportunities to fulfil mitzvoth, but we are urged to “walk”, to actively seek ways of doing that which is right and good.
To “walk” in Hashem’s statutes means that we actively take part in religious life, that we happily and eagerly accept responsibility to do our share as part of the community. It means that we pay our way, and do our best, and participate as well as we can. Those who shirk the responsibility and privilege of “walking” in Hashem’s ways deprive themselves of the satisfaction and self-respect that come with ethical, righteous religious living.
Shuls and communal institutions don’t exist just through wishful thinking. Minyanim don’t happen just from good intentions. If we each do not do our share, we cannot expect others to pick up the slack for us.
As we continue our journey from Pesach to Shavous, let the messages of the parasha strike a chord within us. As Rav Noach Weinberg zt’l, taught “there are no accidents. Nothing just happens. Hashem is running the world, and everything that occurs is a Divinely calibrated message from Hashem.”
Let us strengthen ourselves against the culture of casualness, against the excuse of randomness. Let us supersede that with the idea of the Ramban; that there is no event, in the life of the Am Yisrael or the life of any individual Jew, that is not the result of Hashem’s personal interest and involvement in our lives. May we all “walk” in Hashem’s statutes. It’s an important key to personal happiness and communal strength.
Shabbat shalom and chodesh tov.
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